Heart Transplant Overview

A heart transplant is performed to replace a diseased heart with a healthy donor heart in someone who has advanced   heart failure  , a condition that causes the heart to become weak and ineffective at pumping blood throughout the body. The most common conditions that can lead to advanced heart failure and the need for a heart transplant include:

• cardiomyopathy
• severe coronary artery disease   (CAD)
• life-threatening heart rhythm problems   (arrhythmias)
• congenital heart defects  

At UAB, heart transplant patients receive exceptional, comprehensive transplant care from an experienced team of specialists that includes surgeons, cardiologists, nurses, dietitians, transplant coordinators, mental health professionals, and transplant social workers. Our patients also have access to educational material and teaching sessions – including classes and supportive face-to-face discussions – during each phase of the transplant process. Receiving information and support every step of the way helps to reduce patients’ anxiety so they can look ahead to the future.